Clamp means



April 1965 M. c. ENGMAN 3,177,551

CLAMP MEANS Filed Aug. 1, 1963 M/LTO/V C. [warm/v DM/ 2 M67 50M;

Fig. 6 A TTOP/VE v5 United States Patent 3,177,551 CLAMP MEANS Milton C. Engman, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Engman Manufacturing Company, Des Moines, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Aug. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 299,410 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-270) This invention relates to a clamping means and particularly to a clamp which is adapted to readily be secured to and removed from pipes, shafts, posts, tubes and the like.

In the manufacture and use of clamps of the type described herein, two factors in particular among others are important. The design of the clamp must permit easy installation and removal from the elements being clamped and secondly the unit cost per clamp must be low since these clamps are used in large volume.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a clamping means that may be easily and quickly installed and removed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clamping device that is comprised of identical parts which may be mass produced at a low cost per unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clamp means that occupies a minimum of area space.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clamping device having a closing means once moved into a preliminary closing position is easily and quickly moved into a final locked position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clamping device having smooth exterior surfaces.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clamping device that is economical to manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clamp in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clamp in its closed position with the toggle arm being illustrated in a position just prior to final locking and mating engagement with one of the clamp jaws; I FIG. 3 is a side view of the clamp in its open position with the toggle arm illustrated in its rearward pivotal position to permit access into the clamp and also in its position in engagement with one of the clamp jaws from which position it is subsequently pivoted forcing the clamp jaws together and bringing the toggle arm into mating engagement therewith;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view in cross section of the clamping device taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the clamping device in its closed position with a portion of the toggle arm broken away to more clearly illustrate its relationship to the clamping jaws; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the clamping means in an opened position with the toggle arm being in a position of initial engagement with one of the jaw elements just prior to the clamp being closed by pivotal movement of the toggle arm.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings the clamp is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and is shown to comprise jaws 12 and 12' held in locking engagement about a pipe 11 or the like by a toggle arm 16.

The clamp jaws 12 and 12' are identical in construction and therefore only jaw 12 will be described in detail and the corresponding structure of the other jaw will be referred to by the same numeral with a prime.

In FIG. 5 the clamp is shown in its closed position and the semi-circular inner edges 18 and 18 of the jaws 12 and 12 meet to form a circular opening through the clamp. The clamp jaw 12 is formed with a center body portion 20 and oppositely extending end portions 22 and 24. The end portion 22 is laterally disposed substantially the width of the plate forming the jaw 12 into a plane parallel to the body portion 20. The other end portion 24 of the jaw member 12 has an outer end edge 26 (FIG. 3) extending radially of the jaw clamp 12. Extending perpendicular to the radially extending straight end edge 26 is an outer straight perpendicular edge 28 which terminates in a concave edge 30. A convex shoulder 32 is formed between the concave edge 30 and the outer straight edge 28. Each of the jaws 12 and 12 is provided with an opening 34 in the end portion 24 as indicated at 34' in FIG. 6. The end portions 22 and 22 of the jaws 12 and 12' respectively are pivotally secured together in an overlapping position by pin meams 35 as shown clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4. The body portions 20 and 20' lie in substantially the same plane as the result of the pivotal end connections 22 and 22 being offset therefrom respectively.

The toggle arm 16 may be pivotally connected to either of the ends 24 or 24'. As shown in the drawings, the toggle arm 16 comprises toggle members 38 and 40, member 38 comprising a pair of identical plate elements pivotally connected by pin 36 extending through opening 34 in the end 24 of the jaw 12.

This second toggle member 40 serves as an actuating lever. In FIG. 3 it is seen that it has a concave edge 44 corresponding to the outer convex edge curvature of the jaw members. The concave edge 44 terminates in a convex nose portion 46 for bearing engagement with the concave edge 30' of the jaw end 24'. The nose portion 46 then terminates in a shoulder portion 48 extending inwardly towards the concave edge portion 44. Extending from the shoulder portion 48 is a straight edge portion 50 as shown in FIG. 5 which meets at a right angle and edge portion 52. A flange 54 integral with the edge 52 extends outwardly from the latter edge portion. By the use of pin 56 the actuating toggle member 4% is pivotally connected between the plate elements 38 and 38'.

Thus it is seen in operation that the actuating toggle member 40 is adapted to pivot relative to the toggle plates 38 and 38' to move the convex nose portion 46 into mating engagement with the concave edge 30' on the end 24' of the jaw member 12' as shown in FIG. 6. When the clamp is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 5, the concave portion 44 of the toggle member 40 matingly engages the convex outer edge of the jaw member 12 to give the clamp a rounded exterior surface.

The clamp may be closed in several ways. First, the jaws 12 and 12' may be moved relatively close together such that the nose 46 is securely held within the concave edge portion 30 of the jaw 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Then the actuating toggle member 40 is moved downwardly into engagement with the outer convex edge 12' as shown in FIG. 2. A second method is shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 3. The shoulder 48 on the toggle 40 is hooked over the convex shoulder on the end por tion 24' of the jaw 12 and thereby placing the straight edge portion 50 of the toggle member 40 in mating engagement with the straight edge portion 28' of the end portion 24'. By applying force manually or with a tool to the outer free end of the toggle member 40 in a counterclockwise direction, the nose portion 46 will move to the portion shown in FIG. 6 and next into engagement with the concave portion 39 ofthe end portioni24' as shown in FIG. 2 and then into locked position as shown in FIG. 5. A third method of closing the clamp is illus-' V trated by the initial position assumed by the toggle memher and jaws shown in FIG. 6'. The toggle member 40 is pivoted clockwise snfiiciently enough to hook the shoulder 48 over the convex portion 321" on the end portion 24', The toggle member 40 is then pivoted further to the position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and lastly to the closed position of FIG. 5., a V

Each of the elements of theclamp as illustrated in; the drawings are stamped from sheet metal and since identical parts have been used wherever possible the clamp consists with an integral finger engaging portion of fiat plate metal extending transversely of said second toggle member and of only three distinct elements, a jaw 12, a toggle plate 38 and a toggle plate 40. Consequently, by.this construction a very durable butyet very economical clamp;

may be mass producedand easily assembled. When the clamp is in its closed position, it presents" a relatively smooth exterior surface, a roundedbottom side edge comprising the ends 22 and. 22"of the jaws 12 and 1 2 and a fiat top edge including the straight edges 28 andltllof.

the end portions 24 and 24 respectively. 1

, Some changes may be made in the construction and;

arrangement of my clamp means without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my.

intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of i, 7

structure or use of mechanical equivalents which'may reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1 -In a clamp, comprising,

a pair of generally hemi-cylindricalflatzplate metal jaw' 7 members, means pivotally connecting together one end of each of said jaw members, the other end of each jaw member having, a radially" straight edge.

terminating in an outer straight edge extendingperj- Y pendicular thereto,-said outer straight edge terminating in a convex edge which initurn merges with i a concave edge mergingv into the rounded outer peripheral edge of the jaw member, g s

a first toggle member having a pair .of 'flat plate metali elementspositioned on opposite sides of the other end of one of said jaw members, 7 Y 1 a a pin means pivotally connecting said plate elements to the other end of said one jaw member,- I it concave edge for mating engagement with the outer rounded edge of the other jaw member intermediate its ends, said concave edger terminating in'a convex,

nose edge, which in turn merges into an ed'ge portion,

extending inwardly towards said concave'edge, said edge portion terminating in, a straight edge portion; i,

which mergeswitha second straight edge extending at a rightangle thereto," a means 'pivotally connecting said pair of platee'lements to'opposit'e sides of said second toggle member adjacent the intersection of saidifirst and, second straight edge portions, a

said first straight edge portion on said'second toggle 4 member being adapted'to matingly engage the outer straight edge on said other end of said other jaw portion with said convexedge' on said other end of l said other jaw portion'matingly engaging said second 5 toggle member at the'juncture of'said edge portion extending inwardly toward said; concave edge and said'straight edge portion, and f second toggle member of'fiat plate metal having a of the plane of said clamp. V

3. In a clamp, comprising, 7 I a pair of generally hemi-cylindricalflat plate metaljaw members, means. pivotally c onnecting together one end of each of said jaw members, the other end of each jaw member having a radially straightedge terminating in an outcristraightedge. extending perpendicular thereto, said outer straight edge terminating in a convex edge which in turn merges with a Lconcave edge merging. into the'rounded outer,

' peripheral edge of the jaw member,

' a first toggle member having a'pair of fiat plate metal elements positioned on opposite sides of the other end of one'of said jaw members,

a pin means pivotally' connecting said plate elements to the other end of said one jaw member,

asecond toggle mernber of flat plate metal having an elongated concave edgemerging with a convex nose portion which in turn extends into a first straight edge portion extending into a secondrstraight edge portion disposed at a right angle thereto, and said second straight-edgeportion having'an elongated 'finger engaging portion integral therewith and; ex-

7 .tending transversely thereof, l a l means;pivotally'connecting said pairof plate elements I to opposite'sides of said secondtoggle member adjacentthe'intersectionof said first and second straight V edgeportions, V V said convexnose portion on said second toggle member being adapted to matingly engage said concaveedge of said other end of said other jaw member and vupon towards said .other jaw member said concave edge of said second toggle member matingly engages said rounded-intermediate edge-of said other jaw member.

I Ref erencesNCited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/94 Engel g Q s24+-2S0 X 937,636 10/09 Niem'ann' s1-'-3.44 1,54 ,9 1, 7/25 Weil V.' V 8l--3.44' 1,6 3,412, 10/26" Rohde 285-409-f I 2,087,604 7/37 Mosher 24-72551 2,673,102 73/547 Hutchinson n- "285 409 2,725,246 '11/55' 'Weinhold 285-'-252 2,752,174; 6/56 Frost; 285-409 FOREIGN PATENTS" j 859,239

1/ 61 7 Great Britain; DONL EY STOCKING, Primary Examin'er,

said second toggle member being pivoted further" 

3. IN A CLAMP, COMPRISING, A PAIR OF GENERALLY HEMI-CYLINDRICAL FLAT PLATE METAL JAW MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING TOGETHER ONE END OF EACH OF SAID JAW MEMBERS, THE OTHER END OF EACH JAW MEMBER HAVING A RADIALLY STRAIGHT EDGE TERMINATING IN AN OUTER STRAIGHT EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR THERETO, SAID OUTER STRAIGHT EDGE TERMINATING IN A CONVEX EDGE WHICH IN TURN MERGES WITH A CONCAVE EDGE MERGING INTO THE ROUNDED OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE JAW MEMBER, A FIRST TOGGLE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF FLAT PLATE METAL ELEMENTS POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE OTHER END OF ONE OF SAID JAW MEMBERS, A PIN MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID PLATE ELEMENTS TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ONE JAW MEMBER, A SECOND TOGGLE MEMBER OF FLAT PLATE METAL HAVING AN ELONGATED CONCAVE EDGE MERGING WITH A CONVEX NOSE PORTION WHICH IN TURN EXTENDS INTO A FIRST STRAIGHT EDGE PORTION EXTENDING INTO A SECOND STRAIGHT EDGE 